Tennis racket



Patented May 26, 1925.

UNITED STATES rnncivan sunnrnes, or Lennon, ENGLAND.

TENNIS RACKET.

Application filed October 15, 192%, Serial No. 743,713.

To all whom, may concern: I

Be it known that I, PnnoivAL Soani'nun, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tennis Rackets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. V

This invention relates to lawn tennis and like rackets, and has for its object to pro vide an improved construction of the handies of such rackets whereby the balancing of the racket is effected in the construction oflhe handle itself and without the addition thereto or insertion therein of lead or other metal which has heretofore been usualrfor the purpose of giving the proper or required balanc to the racket. The advantages of a nicely or properly balanced racket are well known to tennis players, and the construction of the handle portion of a tennis racket according to this invention is such as to enable the weight of the wood or other material of which the handle is made to be so distributed, in the process of constructing or forming the handle, as to ensure or obtain the nicest or most desirable balancing effect.

In tennis rackets heretofore eonstruct ed the extensions of the bent ash frame or head of the racket, (which extensions form portions of the handle), are so formed that they taper gradually, in the direction transversely to the plane of the frame, from the shoulder or inner end of the frame to the outer or butt end of the handle so that the cross-section of these extensions gradually decreases towards the said outer or butt end at which the crosssection of the wood is smallest, the intermediate or filling piece or wedge of wood situated between the said extensions being similarly tapered; further the two side pieces which are secured, for instance glued, to the sides of the said extensions and of the said intermediate or filling piece, are formed with an opposite taper on their inner faces so that each of these side pieces, which make up the complete handle, gradually decreases in thickness from the outer or butt end of the handle towards the opposite or inner end, i. e. towards the frame or head of the racket.

Now according to the present invention the frame extensions and the intermediate or filling piece or pieces or wedges which to gether constitute the inner, main or heart portion of the handle, are of greatest thickness or cross-section,in the direction transversely of or at right angles to the frame or strung head of the racket,both at the eX- treme outer or butt end of the handle and at the inner end or shoulder of the frame or head, the wood or material of which the said extensions andwedges are formed being tapered or curved on their opposite sides from the said butt end and from the opposite or shoulder end towards the midlength of the handle so that the wood gradually decreases in thickness in the said direction from both the outer or butt end and the inner or shoulder end of the handle towards the centre or mid-length of the handle, it may be to a position, or line midway between the outer and inner ends of the handle. Further the said frame extensions and/or the intermediate or filling pieces or wedges between these extensions may be so formed that, in the direction of the horizontal plane of the racket head or frame, there is a gradual increase in width of the handle from a point or line between the inner end and the outer or butt end of therhandle to the outer end thereof so that at the extreme outer or butt end the handle of increased or maximum thickness or width in the direction of the horizontal plane of the frame or head of the racket.

The two side pieces, which may as usual be glued to the sides of the aforesaid frame extensions and of the wedge piece'or pieces between these extensions, may be formed on their inner and wider sides to conform to the hereinbefore mentioned curving or tapering of the said frame extensions and intermediate wedge pieces; for instance each of the said side pieces may be curved or tapered on its inner face towards each end of the piece so that from a predetermined position or transverseline betweenthe ends of the said piece it gradually decreases in thickness towards its opposite ends which are of reduced or minimum thickness. each of the saig side pieces may be shaped on its opposite longitudinal edges or narrower sides to conform to the hereinbefore mentioned shaping of the frame extensions and wedge piece by which the width or thickness of the handle gradually increases,

Further in the direction of the plane of the frame or head of the racket, towards the outer or butt end of the handle.

By suitably cutting of formin'gthe several pieces that go to make up the complete handle, i. e. the frame extensions, wedges or filling pieces and side pieces, the thickness and weight of the wood or material can be nicely adjusted or distributed at the outer or butt end of the handle and towards the mid-length of the handle so as to give the required balance to the racket.

In the accompanying illustrative drawing, Figs. 1 and 2 show, in front and side elevation respectively, the handle of a lawn tennis racket embodying the invention.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section corresponding to the line A A of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4; is a transverse section corresponding to the line B B of Fig. 1.

As can be clearly seen from the side elevation, Fig. 2 of the drawing, the frame extensions 1 and the intermediate or filling pieces or wedges 2, which together form the inner or heart portion of the handle, are of greatest thickness at the extreme outer or butt end of the handle and at the point 3 adjacent to the inner end or shoulder of the frame or head, the wood or material of which the said extensions and wedges or filling pieces are formed being tapered or curved on their opposite sides from both ends towards a point 2 about mid-length of the handle so that the said wood or material gradually decreases in thickness towards the point cf t will also be seen that the two side pieces 3 are formed on their inner and under sides to conform to the curving or apering of the said frame extensions 1 and intermediate fillin or wedge pieces 2 so that theyare thicker at the point 2 than at the extreme outer or butt end of the handle.

The section, Fig. 3, in the horizontal plane of the racket head or frame shows that the intermediate or filling pieces 2 are gradually reduced in width towards the mid-point 2, the said intermediate or filling piece being wider at the butt end an of the handle than at the part 3 adjacent to the shoulder so that the widest part of the handle is at the said butt end 00.

By cutting or forming the several pieces constituting the handle in the manner described the thickness and weight of the wood or material are so nicely adjusted or distributed as to obtain the desired balance without the necessity of any of the heretofore usual lead or other metal insertion.

Modifications in the details of construction or arrangements above described might be made without departing from the invention.

What I claim is 1. In a tennis racket, a frame having handle extensions the adjacent sides of which taper towards their upper and lower ends and which are widest at their said ends, a filling piece tapered to fit between the said sides, and side pieces secured over the front and rear sides of the said extensions and filling piece.

2. In a tennis racket, a frame having handle extensions, and a filling piece secured between the adjacent sidesof the said extensions, the front and rear sides of the said extensions and filling piece being tapered towards their upper and lower ends and being thickest at their said ends, and side pieces tapered to fit over the front and rear sides of the said extensions and filling piece. i

3. In a tennis racket, a frame having handle extensions the adjacent sides and the front and rear sides of which all taper towards their upper and lower ends and which are widest and thickest at their said ends, a filling piece tapered to fit between the adjacent sides of the extensions and having its front and rear sides tapered to correspond with the front and rear sides of the extensions, and side pieces tapered to fit over the front and rear sides of the said extensions and filling piece.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

PERGIVAL SURRIDGE. 

